Lid latch



H. A. SADLER.

LID LATCH.

APPLiCATJON HLED MAR. 19, 192].

Pgtefited Apr. 25, 1922.

M 5 M a 0 a a To all whom it may concern? HERBIELRJJI A. SADLEB, OF SOUTH AT TLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

1 ga n heron.

Be it known that I, HERBERT A. sha citizenv of the'United 'Stat'es, resldlng at South Attleboro, inthe county of Bristol,in

the State, of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Lid Latch, of which the following isa specification.

This invention-relates to improvements 1n lid-latches more particularly adapted for use as a snap catch for locking thelids or covers a of receptacles, such as ladies hand bags,

vanity cases and the like; and the object of the invention is to provide a spring-pressed catch or detent which ismounted ina celluloidframe or top portion of such a receptacle' whereby the lid will be automatically locked when moved from open to closed position, the detent being so arranged as toposi- @tively lock the lid in closed positionso that invention consists of certain novelfeatures' it: cannot be accidentally opened, requiring an operation by hand in order to release the lid. I I v .With these and other objects in view, the

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the top showing the lid locked in closed position by means, of a detent; and showing in dotted lines the lid in position to displace the detent to permit the closing of the lid.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view from the inner face of the celluloid frame, showing the catch therein in which the detent is pivotally mounted. r

Figure 4: is a'plan view showing an edge portion. of the lid, also illustrating the detent-receiving marginal notch and also the recess for retaining the head ofthe detent when in locked position. 7 V

Heretofore it has been found diflicultto provide a latch member for retaining the cover of a celluloid frame, vwhichwill be strong and durable and yet which will positively lock the cover againstaccidental opening, also one which will work automatically to lock the lid when moved to closed posi tion; and the following is a detailed de- Specification of Letters Patent.- Patented Apn 25 Application file d March 19, 19 1. Serial no. 453,818.

' thev lid.

scription' of one construction by which this result maybe accomplished lVith reference to the drawing, 10 designates the frame or top portion ofa ladys hand bag, which frame is constructed of a strip of celluloid bent into the desired oblong shape and its ends as secured together by 'theinturned edge- 11 ofoneof the hinge plates 12, the other of which plates is con 'nected to the under side of the lid or cover 13 to pivotally connect it to the frame.

The front edge of this frame" is provided with a marginal slot 14 in which have pivotally mounted a detent '15, a wire 16 being looped through the eye portion 17 of this detent with its ends 18 projecting down through the frame and twisted together below the shoulder-19 to form a the detent may swing. E

The outer or free end of this detent is provided with a head'memb'er 20 which is preferablyv in spherical shape. whereby it serves a double'purpose; first the spherical shape is ornamental and attractive in appearance, and second, itprovides a rounding under portlonas at 21 to fit lnto a socket ortr'ecessedportion 22 in the outer face of this ball is curved so as to be engaged by the undercut or slanting portion-24 on the inner face of this lid so that when the lid is to be closed this beveled or slanting portion 24 engages the rounding portion of the dejoint on which Then again the upper end 23 of v tent, pushes it'forward into dotted position against the tension of the spring 25 permitting the lid to be moved to closed position after which the sprlng 25, automatically presses the detent back into the marginal slot 26 of the lid causing its head to engage the depression 22in its outer face, to lock .95

the lid in closed position. I

In order to provide a casing for the spring 25 Iliave provided a hollow semi-spherical member 27, the edgesof which are cemented to the outer face of the frame therebyperforminglthree functions; first, thisfhollow member serves as a housing for the spring;

second, it covers the slot 14: in the frame; and third, it serves as an ornament for the front of the frame.

tent in aqbackward direction I have cemented a plate28 on the inner face of the frame so that its edge will engage the shank of the In order to limit the swinging of this de;

detent and limit its inward motion, the out- Ward or releasing motion of this detent being limited by bringing upagainst the upper edge of the hollow semi-spherical member 27. v r

. My improved lid-latch for celluloid framesis extremely simple and practical in construction and by its use the lid is positively locked against accidentally opening also the lid is automatically locked whenv moved from open to closed position.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated,

but 1 desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the me 'chanical changes to; which the devlce 1s susceptible, the. invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Iclaiinz.

1. lid-latch comprising a frame, a detent havlng a shank, a lid-engaging head and plvotally mounted in said frame, a spring to swing said shank towards locked position, a

lid having a marginal slot for receivingthe shank of said detent, said detent headrbeing adapted to engage the outer face of said 11d to hold the lid closed.

. 2. A lid-latch comprising a frame, a detent havlng a lid-engaging head. and pivotally mounted .in said frame, a spring for.

moving the detent on its pivot tonormally press said detent to locked position, a. lid

hinged to said frame and having a marginal slot in itsitree edge for receiving the body of the detent, a recessin the outer face of said lid for receiving and retaining said detent headto hold the lid closed and means on the inner face 01. said lid for engaglng tent to permit and temporarily displacing the detent head to permit the closing of said lid.

3. A lid-latch comprising a body portion provided With a marginal slot, a lid hinged to said body, a detent including a stem piv- V oted in said slot and having a lidengaginghead on its free end a spring in saidfs lot for pressing said detent to locked position in the path'of saidlid', a stop for limiting the movement of said detent in either locking or.

releasing direction, said lidbein'g recessed 11 its outer face to receive and retain said ingo'n said detent and normally tending to maintain thehead of said detent in the path of v the closing movement of, said part-s, whereby said head is of said parts and caused tomove out of nor; mal position by the closing movement of said parts, said last mentioned part halving'a marginal slot thereinjto receive the shank of said detent when the parts are 'in'closed position and when the detentiis returned to normalposition by said yieldab le nieans herebythe enlarged head of said fdeteiit' engages the outer faceof saidslotted to positively maintain the parts in tweed.

position. v

In testimony whereof Iaflix my si nature.

. HERBERT A. santnn.

engaged by: the other 

